The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) on Friday upheld the election of Mbatshi-Mbatshia as Bas-Congo's governor.

The CSJ dismissed a Matadi appeal court's decision requiring the independent electoral commission (CEI) to organize a second round to settle the dispute between the warring parties.

In its judgement, the CSJ said it was basing its ruling on the case law, as the DRC's law does not clearly define the notion of absolute majority.

The election, in which Mbatshia obtained 15 votes against 14 votes of his rival Fuka Unzola, had been challenged by the spokesman of the opposition party Union for the Nation led by former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba.